Skills Necessary for the Preservation of Our Traditions, Beliefs and Customs in Nigeria – SS2 Civic Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Traditions and customs are the age-long values and beliefs cherished by a group of people, and they are preserved by passing them from one generation to the next.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain what traditions and customs are.
2. List six ways of promoting traditions and customs in Nigeria.
3. Describe how the family, the media and schools help to preserve traditions and customs.
4. State the role of drama, cultural days and exhibitions in promoting our culture.
5. Identify the skills needed to keep our traditions alive.
6. Explain what FESTAC ’77 was.

What are traditions, customs and beliefs?

A tradition is a practice or idea handed down from past generations, while a custom is an accepted way of behaving in a community.

• Tradition: a practice or idea handed down from past generations, such as naming ceremonies and festivals.
• Custom: an accepted way of behaving in a community, such as how people greet elders.
• Belief: an idea a group accepts as true, especially about religion, ancestors and right conduct.
• Preservation: keeping something safe so that it is not lost or forgotten.
• Generation: a group of people born and living at about the same time, such as grandparents, parents and children.

Why should Nigeria preserve its traditions and customs?

Nigeria preserves its traditions and customs to protect its identity, unity and good values.

• Identity: they show who we are and where we come from.
• Unity: shared customs bring members of a community together.
• Good values: they teach respect, honesty and care for the elderly.
• Diversity: Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups, each with its own beliefs and customs.
• Pride and tourism: festivals and crafts attract visitors and show our culture to the world.

What are the ways of promoting traditions and customs?

There are six main ways of promoting traditions and customs: the family, the media, schools, drama, cultural days and exhibitions.

1. How does the family promote traditions and customs?

The family is the most effective medium for passing customs and beliefs to the next generation.

• Socialisation: the family is the primary agent of socialisation, so children learn culture first at home.
• Language: children learn their local language by speaking it at home.
• Food: children learn to prepare local dishes.
• Greetings: children learn the correct position to take when greeting elders.
• Dressing: children learn the local dress that fits each occasion.
• Crafts: children learn to make items such as mats, clay pots and hand fans.

2. How does the media promote traditions and customs?

The media promote culture by reporting on and presenting it to a wide audience.

• Print media: newspapers and magazines report on festivals, dress and music.
• Electronic media: radio and television present our dances, dresses and festivals.
• Reach: they show our rich cultural heritage to the wider community of nations.

3. How do schools promote traditions and customs?

Schools promote culture by teaching values, practical skills and Nigerian languages.

• Values: the curriculum teaches respect, contentment, honesty and helping old people.
• Practical culture: schools teach our traditional dishes, attires and costumes, and how they are produced.
• Languages: Nigerian languages such as Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are taught and examined in WAEC.

4. How does drama promote traditions and customs?

Drama promotes culture by acting out our values and way of life on stage and screen.

• Local dialects: plays that show our values and lifestyle in local languages promote our culture at home and abroad.
• Television: some stations give a large part of their programmes to African drama.
• Cable channels: pay television reserves some channels for African drama, for example African Magic.

5. What are cultural days?

Cultural days are days of the year on which tribes and nationalities celebrate their culture and festivals.

• Display: people show traditional dresses, dishes, hairstyles and other items that suit the event.
• Schools and communities: many schools also hold cultural days for their pupils.

6. How do exhibitions promote traditions and customs?

Exhibitions promote culture by displaying cultural items to visitors.

• Cultural exhibitions and workshops: they display traditional cosmetics, dishes, textiles and artworks.
• Purpose: they show the richness of our culture to the world.

What was FESTAC ’77?

FESTAC ’77 was the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, held in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977.

• Participants: black and African nations gathered to celebrate their cultural heritage.
• Focus: African culture, shown through arts, music, dance and exhibitions.
• Host: Nigeria, in Lagos.

What skills are needed to preserve our traditions and customs?

The skills needed are speaking local languages, cooking, craft making, music and dance, storytelling, respectful conduct, and recording and presenting culture.

What problems threaten our traditions and customs?

Foreign influence, neglect of local languages, urban living and lack of interest are the main threats to our traditions and customs.

• Foreign influence: young people copy foreign dress, food and music.
• Neglect of local languages: some children no longer speak their mother tongue.
• Urban living: families move to cities and lose contact with village customs.
• Lack of interest: some people see old practices as out of date.

How can these problems be reduced?

These problems are reduced when families, schools, the media and communities all keep culture in daily use.

• At home: parents speak the mother tongue with their children.
• In school: pupils take part in cultural days, drama and language classes.
• In the media: stations give more time to local music, drama and festivals.
• In the community: families attend festivals and visit their home towns.

Evaluation

1. What are traditions and customs?
2. State six ways of promoting traditions and customs.
3. Explain how the family helps to preserve our traditions and customs.
4. What was FESTAC ’77, and where was it held?
5. List three skills that help to preserve our traditions.

Assignment

Choose any three ways of promoting traditions and customs from the lesson. Explain each in two or three sentences, with one example from your own community.